Sony exec breaks out big ideas in inaugural D.I.C.E. keynote
by Christopher Grant 
{ Feb 8th 2007 at 3:16PM }
Yeah, it's one of our favorite buzzwords too! However, when a well-positioned industry vet like Sony executive Yair Landau starts tossing it around, talking about blurring production lines between video games and movies, we take notice. Delivering the D.I.C.E. Summit's first ever keynote last night, as reported by GameSpot, Landau cited Sony Pictures' upcoming Ghost Rider movie as an example of a project that "combined all the specialties" of Sony Pictures Entertainment.
Of course, the official movie-based game is being handled by 2K Games, so we're not quite all the way on convergence, but we get the idea. But the idea isn't new (or else it wouldn't be a very good buzzword, would it?). At last year's GDC, LucasArts and ILM delivered a case study on the convergence of games and film, detailing how they planned to leverage the unique skills of both divisions, with the next Indiana Jones being the first product of that collaboration. Maybe Sony will try something with that spy MMO Landau finished with ... but Activision's got Bond all tied up.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Marty @ Feb 8th 2007 3:22PM
Movies based on games suck, and games based on movies suck. I am not impressed.
Thomas Crymes @ Feb 8th 2007 4:00PM
They've finally done it. Found a way to marry a poor game with a mediocre movie. This will open up untold doors for other poor to mediocre properties to cram through.
They forgot to add that the movie based game will simultaneously be released on PS3, XBox360, Wii, DS, PSP, and cell phones. Look for a hex table game to follow soon after.
Rask @ Feb 8th 2007 6:53PM
So Sony's idea of convergence is making games about movies?
I think I like MS's take on convergence a lot better than Sony's
heretrix @ Feb 8th 2007 4:02PM
"However, when a well-positioned industry vet like Sony executive Yair Landau starts tossing it around, talking about blurring production lines between video games and movies, we take notice"
Why? It's still boring as shit.
Mr Khan @ Feb 8th 2007 4:21PM
It's DOOM
The Movie, based on the game, that was based on the movie, that was based on the novel, that was based on the game!
And guess what, aside from the first game, they all suck! (the game listed last)
copa @ Feb 8th 2007 6:57PM
Wow! When Yair Lindau starts talking about making a game adaptation of a movie, we should sit up and take notice! That's what I call convergence!
hooha @ Feb 8th 2007 8:41PM
i'm a joystiq diq. guess what? you are, too.
jimmyfinch @ Feb 8th 2007 9:47PM
Starfleet Officer?
Maybe a Vulcan?
Hugh Mann @ Feb 9th 2007 4:27AM
Hardly a buzzword, it has been chucked around for the last five or six years at least, and it never works.
Why are companies like sony convinced they have to do this kind of thing? Games are not movies and vice versa. Part of what most people enjoy about movies is that it is a relatively passive experience, you sit down and absorb what plays out on the screen. Games are something you directly control and have active input and feedback from. Trying to mix the two experiences results in a half assed version of both rolled into one.